Author Topic: Favorite Handi Hunting Caliber for Big Game?  (Read 1466 times)

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Offline bb4guns

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Favorite Handi Hunting Caliber for Big Game?
« on: October 17, 2020, 03:04:42 AM »
Well mine is the 308 Winchester. For selection of bullet weights, trajectory and Dow range energy it is hard to beat. Everything from 125 grain Dear loads to 180 grain Elk loads it will deliver.

Offline orerancher

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Re: Favorite Handi Hunting Caliber for Big Game?
« Reply #1 on: October 19, 2020, 10:30:10 AM »
35 Whelen...220g. Cast

Offline ironglows

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Re: Favorite Handi Hunting Caliber for Big Game?
« Reply #2 on: October 19, 2020, 04:14:12 PM »
Mark me down for .308 for all round big game.
"They have the guns and therefore we are for peace and for reformation through the ballot. When we have the guns, then it will be through the bullet"      (Saul Alinsky) ...hero of the left..

Offline geezerbiker

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Re: Favorite Handi Hunting Caliber for Big Game?
« Reply #3 on: October 19, 2020, 07:07:37 PM »
I'd say my .45-70 only because it's my favorite rifle.  I have a .30-30 Handi I've never shot because the front sight is messed up.  I'm about ready to pull off that new target knob peep I put on it and scope it.  I think it has the potential of being my next favorite deer gun.

I won't complain here (much) about the futility of hunting black tail deer...

Tony

Offline wtxbadger

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Re: Favorite Handi Hunting Caliber for Big Game?
« Reply #4 on: October 20, 2020, 01:59:08 AM »
My favorite would be 45-70 hands down.
wtxbadger

Offline Dee

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Re: Favorite Handi Hunting Caliber for Big Game?
« Reply #5 on: October 20, 2020, 03:14:01 AM »
I wish I had one of my Model 70s in 30-06 back. But I don't.
You may all go to hell, I will go to Texas. Davy Crockett

Offline jedman

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Re: Favorite Handi Hunting Caliber for Big Game?
« Reply #6 on: April 29, 2021, 03:03:44 PM »
I have a 50-70 handi and I have only taken 2 whitetails with it so far but I would use it for larger game with no reservations.
I have other caliber handis that I have taken more game with and would be better at longer ranges but the 50-70 is like a 50 cal. muzzleloader but is a cartridge gun and it plain works.

jedman
Current handi family, 24 ga./ 58 cal ,50-70,  45 smokeless MZ, 44 belted bodeen, 44 mag,.375 H&R (wildcat),375 Win.,357 max, .340 MF ( wildcat ), 8 mm Lebel, 8x57, .303 British, 270 x 57 R,(wildcat) 256 Win Mag, 2 x 243 Win,2 x 223 Rem. &20ga.,
H&R 45-70 trapdoors, officers model & Calvary Carbine, more recently 256 Winchester magnum,44 magnum Shikari, 7-30 Waters in the making.

Offline fast*eddie

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Re: Favorite Handi Hunting Caliber for Big Game?
« Reply #7 on: May 01, 2021, 12:18:46 PM »
I don't hunt anything larger than deer so my NEF 25-06 works fine . I prefer the single shot rifles .

Semper Fi !

Offline gene_225

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Re: Favorite Handi Hunting Caliber for Big Game?
« Reply #8 on: May 01, 2021, 12:49:43 PM »
Haven't hunted in years, but I prefer the 30-40 Krag with a 30" barrel. I used  H4831 because it could burn to the end of the barrel. Will admit I used a .308 on a moose at 200 yds. But the Krag did fine on an 8.5' brown bear at 25 yds. so I think it would have been fine for the moose.

Offline Ranger99

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Re: Favorite Handi Hunting Caliber for Big Game?
« Reply #9 on: May 02, 2021, 11:52:23 AM »
Probably be the 444
After the factory fixed their boo boos
and sent it back I worked with it and
it turned out to be a tack driver.
All the animals shot with it so far
gave up quickly.
Not bad at all for a cheap gun
Let's go Brandon  !

Offline JimP.

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Re: Favorite Handi Hunting Caliber for Big Game?
« Reply #10 on: May 04, 2021, 11:28:30 AM »
MY FAVORITE IS MY 450 MARLIN CHAMBERED HANDI, OR MY 500 SW MAG HANDI LOADED TO 50-70 VELOCITIES...JIMP.

Offline Ghosth

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Re: Favorite Handi Hunting Caliber for Big Game?
« Reply #11 on: May 20, 2021, 04:15:43 PM »
Would be .30-30 or .444marlin for me with the .357mag running a too close to call 3 way tie.

Offline ironglows

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Re: Favorite Handi Hunting Caliber for Big Game?
« Reply #12 on: May 21, 2021, 12:07:26 AM »
.
  I really  learned to like the .308, when I transitioned from the M1 to the M14 ....
"They have the guns and therefore we are for peace and for reformation through the ballot. When we have the guns, then it will be through the bullet"      (Saul Alinsky) ...hero of the left..

Offline neckisred

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Re: Favorite Handi Hunting Caliber for Big Game?
« Reply #13 on: May 21, 2021, 12:26:20 AM »
My Model 158 30-30 is probably my favorite right now, but I have a new to me .243 that I have high hopes for.

Offline HWB13

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Re: Favorite Handi Hunting Caliber for Big Game?
« Reply #14 on: May 21, 2021, 02:37:03 AM »
I would have to go with my 35 Whelen,  I  fell for it when I saw the RMEF edition in Bugle magazine.  Did the research,  was living on the left coast then, a d didn't have the funds or had been bit by the handi bug yet
  Was glad when they started producing it again.  Will do deer, bear,  elk,  or moose at any ethical range. In the big woods of Maine bigger is better.
Kevin   
Handi's:17 Mach2, 17 HMR,17 WSM, 22LR, 22 Win Mag, 204 Ruger, 22 Hornet UV, 22-250 UV, 25-06, 30-30, 35 Whelen, 30-06, 20gaX2, 20GA ultra Slug, 12ga ultra slug, 12 ga Turkey, H&W 45-70 BC X2, 45 LC CC, 44 Mag, 500 S&W and 140+ non-H&R types

If you have to shoot more than once you should not have shot the first time.

Offline 45/70fan

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Re: Favorite Handi Hunting Caliber for Big Game?
« Reply #15 on: May 21, 2021, 08:38:26 AM »
It used to be the 45/70 but since I'm down to woods hunting with a max 50 yard shot it's now a 357 Mag. In fact my two biggest deer fell to the the little 357 two years in a row (2018 and 2019). Toted the Maxi last year but didn't shoot anything...

Offline Mule 11

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Re: Favorite Handi Hunting Caliber for Big Game?
« Reply #16 on: May 21, 2021, 09:43:26 AM »
375 win due to local regs, love it. Oh yeah. It’s a pre Smith encore with a 20” mgm barrel topped with a x3 1.75-6 loopy... and it’s handi...

Offline Capt Danger

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Re: Favorite Handi Hunting Caliber for Big Game?
« Reply #17 on: May 21, 2021, 04:03:57 PM »
.50 cal Encore ML and .357 Max Handi for Eastern Whitetail.

Bolt action rifles are my preference for western big game. I've used a .243 handi rifle for mule deer and antelope and it worked well. Just not as versatile.

Love my R77 all weather boat paddle in 7 RM as my do it all western big game rifle. You can substitute a 30-06 as well. One rifle that does it all.


Offline Woodbridge 30-30

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Re: Favorite Handi Hunting Caliber for Big Game?
« Reply #18 on: May 26, 2021, 01:51:23 PM »
I agree with Capt Danger about the old 30-06... pretty hard to beat

Offline 300winman

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Re: Favorite Handi Hunting Caliber for Big Game?
« Reply #19 on: June 01, 2021, 06:41:18 PM »
Being from Southern Michigan shotgun only zone, my 20ga Tracker II, drilled and tapped, with a 2-7x33 Leupold.  It has taken 10+ whitetails.  But my 450 Marlin is a close 2nd.
Big Guns get''''r done!!!!